WHICH DROP FIRST?

[deershed]

I've heard for as long as I can remember that the mature buck with the
bigger racks drop sooner then the smaller younger bucks.Last year was my
first at hunting elk sheds,but it was obvious from what I heard and saw that
the bigger bulls dropped first.Early in the season which was early April for me,
I saw some real nice 6x6's and plenty of spikes and rag bulls.As the month went
on I saw bulls with new growth and small rag bulls and spikes,but no bigger
bulls.
I've shed hunted for whitetail sheds for years and have never noticed the
same pattern.I've found a mixture of big and small sheds from start to finish.
I've seen some small Y bucks and spikes that dropped one side by late jan.
and some monster 10 pointers that still had both sides in late April??
All the buck that I've seen this yr. with half racks that dropped one side already
have all been small racks and they were running with MUCH larger racked buck.
It makes total sense that the larger buck that are run down from the rut would
drop first,I've just never seen it.
Anyone have any comments on what they've observed??

 

[Shag]

Deershed, I've heard/read some of the same stuff about big racks dropping first but don't put much stock in it. What is interesting along those lines is that there is some evidence that a buck will shed his antlers real close to the same time each year. Also, something else I think I've noticed some evidence of is a group of bucks hanging together all shedding one side at the same time. Almost like they get in synch somehow. Don't know. If I were to guess anything it would be that usually the smaller bucks hold long into March but that may be only because there are so many more of them to be seen. You may be the best expert on this as it sounds like you've got areas with good numbers of deer with a lot of survivor bucks.

 

[MrRee]

I feel the BIG bucks shed first too. I think it makes sense to say that the earlier a buck sheds, the sooner it is ready for new growth, and to grow the really big rack, It does not start late. while the nutrition is to me by far the most important factor in the growing of a rack, two bucks in the same area with same nutrition, the one who sheds first will start and have more time into growing when that same nutrition becomes available to them.

But what to I know? not very mutch! just my 2 cents.

 

[wvbill]

I always thought it was related to the deer's condition,,as i have seen crippled ones loose theirs in deer season(late nov) hear. </span><span style="color:green">

 

[Shag]

Yeah, it's certainly true that wounded ones will shed pretty quickly as their vitality is compromised. I've know of a guys who killed a wounded buck and had the antler come off in his hand. Looked in the immediate area where the deer was bedded up and found the other (in November). I think some of the really early sheds some people find may be off wounded deer whose condition declines and they drop their antlers.

 

[deershed]

Once again this year I'm seeing all small buck that have dropped one side while the bigger buck still have both antlers.I found about a 9" spike (fresh) shed today.
I understand there's probably 10 small buck to every 1 big buck,but still.The only thing I can think is that the deer I'm seeing are surburbia deer and with the high numbers it's throwing things out of whack?Percentage wise with big and small buck,I'm just not seeing the bigger bucks drop first.
I always thought the deer's condition along with his sex drive (hormones) determines when he drops.When they lose the sex drive they lose the antlers.And that has alot to do with the longer daylight hours,etc.??

 

[Shag]

Yupp.

 

[GIVEMTHEBLADE]

deershed,

From photo hunting I have seen a patern in my area that the smaller buck lose them first followed but the older bucks!!! Same w/ my shed hunting I usually find the smaller one first and the bigger ones later!!!!